Windows without Media Player gets a name

Microsoft has been ordered by the European Commission to offer a version of Windows that does not have the media player bundled with it, and it will do so, under the name of either "Windows XP Home Edition N" or "Windows XP Professional Edition N". Microsoft had wanted to use the name "Windows XP Reduced Media Edition" but the EC balked at the name.

"We have some misgivings about the chosen name as we fear it may cause confusion. We will adopt the commission's name in order to move forward and accelerate the pace of the implementation process." - Microsoft spokeswoman Stacy Drake.

Other names that were considered included Windows XP Not Incorporating Windows Media Player, Windows XP/N and Windows XP/B.